Peel and Stick Vinyl Tiles for the Garage Floor

Are you looking for garage flooring option? Do you know RaceDay peel and stick vinyl tiles? If you don’t, that is because peel and stick vinyl tile is one lesser known garage flooring option. However, that doesn’t mean you should not consider this option. On the contrary, you may want to consider it. Especially, if you like the idea of vinyl composite tiles that comes without the need to apply glue during installation and the ongoing maintenance.

About RaceDay

It is manufactured by Better Life Technology. It is made of polyvinyl, these tiles are 0.95 mils in thickness and have an adhesive pressure sensitive backing. The adhesive can be exposed by peeling off the release paper on the tile’s back.

The Benefits of Peel and Stick Vinyl Garage Tiles

One thing to keep in mind is that RaceDay self-stick tiles are made of 100% nonporous solid polyvinyl. What does this mean? This means that the tiles are extremely tough, resistant to road salt stains, oil, battery acid, antifreeze and most other car liquids.

A lot of competitors use a multi-ply laminated construction, with cheap fillers in the middle. They did this to cut the price. Let’s say you buy them. And what will you get? You will get a tile with only a thin layer of quality polyvinyl at the surface. As a result, it is not as tough as the RaceDay tile. It will delaminate after a while of use.

The diamond tread pattern provides extra grip. It stands up well to a standard garage floor environment. The thick vinyl also absorbs sound, helps to insulate from the cold as well as conforms well to the floor. It also delivers some anti-fatigue benefits, unlike the VCT garage floors.

In addition to that, the peel and stick garage floor tiles are easy to clean. You can just wipe the oil and other liquids right up. If you want to clean debris and light dirt, a soft bristle broom or a dust mop will suffice. You can do the heavier cleaning with a mop and ammonia free cleaners. You can also use non-slip vinyl floor cleaners too.

Last but not least, due to the non-porous construction, the tiles virtually seal your garage floor from the elements provided that the tiles are installed correctly. Also, the tiles will not chip or crack as other flooring does. And yes, they also come with a 5-year limited warranty.

Vinyl Floor Tile Installation

The actual installation of this tile is easy. Yet, the floor preparation that is required is similar to vinyl composite tile. You will have to clean the concrete thoroughly. Make sure that the concrete is free of dust and oil. Also, gaps such as large cracks, divots, and contraction joints will need to be filled and smoothed as well. Knock down any sharp raised edges.

Why do you need to do those?

Well, if the gaps are not filled, it will cause the tiles to pull away from its neighbor as you walk or drive over it. This can happen because the tile can be pushed into the gap due to its flexibility. In this case, a self-leveling underlayment will work well for filling the contraction joints. You can found them at most home improvement centers.

While you can apply the peel and stick vinyl tiles directly to the bare concrete, the manufacturer recommends that you apply a concrete primer first to get the best result. Not doing so will make the warranty void.

After the floor is clean and dry, you may want to draw or snap a line down the center of your garage floor, for reference. Laying the tiles out in a dry run to see how things will line up is a good idea.

And now, the application.

Peel the paper release from the vinyl tiles’ back. Then, stick it to the floor based on the reference line. After the first row is laid, you are on your way. In case you make a mistake, you can lift the tile by using a blow dryer to the tile’s surface to soften the glue underneath.

All of the straight cuts should be made using a utility knife and a straight edge. Make sure you press out all the air gaps in each tile before you move on to the next. You can do this by using a rolling pin.

The full installation instructions, as well as the cleaning instructions, are supplied with purchase.

Issues

Although the tiles are great, they are not perfect. There are some issues you should be aware of.

Firstly, the diamond tread pattern may not always line up perfectly when you lay the tiles together. It will be much less noticeable if you are doing alternating colors (for example, a checker design).

Secondly, as with the VCT garage flooring, the vinyl tiles can be spun loose a vehicle. If you turn the front wheels of the vehicle while not moving, that is. No need to worry, though, as it is easy to avoid. Just ensure that the vehicle is moving while you are turning the wheels.

Thirdly, some liquids can stain the tiles. This can happen if you left the liquids to puddle untreated for a long period of time. Dyes, ink, and harsh chemicals are also known to stain the tiles.

Fourthly, the occasional edge of the tiles that wants to lift. This happens mostly because the floor not being prepared and cleaned properly. To solve this, you can use spray-on 3m glue and apply it to the underside edge of the tile.

And finally, the tire stain marks. Polyvinyl peel and stick garage floor tiles are susceptible to tire marks. The biggest culprits? The high performances and some all season tires. RaceDay is manufactured with the same high quality polyvinyl. Only thicker. The darker color tiles are better at hiding the tire marks compared to the lighter colors.

Stain Prevention

If you don’t want to worry about tire marks or if your garage is a fairly busy environment, there is an additional protection against stains and tire marks.

You can apply Better Life Technology’s G-Floor Top Coat Stain Blocker. It is a 2-part epoxy sealer that is mixed together and rolled onto the surface. This product is made specifically for vinyl and it helps to protect the tiles against tire marks as well as other liquids that may stain.

Another option is the Hilway Direct. It is an acrylic sealer that can be applied easily with a mop. This product is available in a satin finish and glossy finish.